NEW YORK - A historic church on the Upper East Side is celebrating 150 years.
Originally organized in 1851, St. Ignatius Loyola Church was entrusted to the Jesuit Order in 1866.
It's not only a New York City landmark, but is also on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to the city's largest mechanical pipe organ.
While located on today's affluent Park Avenue, the church itself had much more humble beginnings.
"It started in 1851, primarily to be a church for Irish immigrants, who were populating the East Side of the island," said the Rev. Dennis Yesalonia.
"It was much closer to being a slum in the early days. They were poor immigrants, basically. Irish immigrants. Many of them worked constructing Central Park," said Frank Vardy, a parishioner.
All this week, a series of lectures, concerts and a street fair lead up to the 150th anniversary service on Sunday.
To learn more, head to stignatiusloyola.org.